National Sport News

Redknapp reveals Modric doubts

Harry Redknapp has made a stunning admission that Luka Modric may quit Tottenham this summer.

The north London club managed to hold on to their star midfielder last year despite overtures from Chelsea and he has rewarded them with a series of fine performances that have left Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini purring.

Speculation about Modric's future, and that of Gareth Bale, will only intensify if the club fail to qualify for the Champions League, and Redknapp said: "Last summer it was vital that we kept hold of Luka. I don't think we will have to do it with people like Gareth Bale this summer. Luka, it's different with him. I don't know what he would do. I would be lying if I said I was sure that he would stay. You don't know."

He added: "But certainly I wouldn't see Gareth Bale wanting to leave here. At the moment he is happy here, a big fish here. He is still learning the game, a young boy, and this is where he needs to be.

"You would like to think Luka would still be here, but you never know."

Tottenham dropped out of the top four last week after suffering yet another defeat at the hands of struggling QPR.

Redknapp is confident his team can win all four of their remaining games and leapfrog Newcastle back into fourth, but that still may not be enough to earn a place in the Champions League.

UEFA rules state a maximum of four teams from one country can qualify for the Champions League and, as a result, the team who finish fourth in the table will not qualify for Europe's top club competition if Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in next month's final in Germany.

Having seen his side battle hard for most of the season, Redknapp feels it would be unfair if Spurs were denied a place in the Champions League if they finished fourth.

"I think that (the rule) is unfair," he said. "You look at the teams that some other countries have in it and we have a team in this country that might finish fourth and are in the final. That shows you the strength of our league. I think the rule should be whoever finishes in the top four should get a Champions League place."